Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge Ordinary Level

BIOLOGY 5090/21
Paper 2 Theory October/November 2018
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2018 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 12 printed pages.

© UCLES 2018 [Turn over

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the
scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

© UCLES 2018 Page 2 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Mark schemes will use these abbreviations:

; separates marking points

/ alternatives
() contents of brackets are not required but should be implied
R reject
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or guidance for examiners)
Ig ignore (for incorrect but irrelevant responses)
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
AVP alternative valid point (where a greater than usual variety of responses is expected)
ORA or reverse argument
underline actual word underlined must be used by candidate
+ statements on both sides of the + are needed for that mark

© UCLES 2018 Page 3 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a)(i) sexual ; 1

1(a)(ii) pollen + stigma ; 5 Ig self- or cross-pollination

pollen tube ;
style ;
ovary / ovule ;
female gamete / ovum ;
fertilisation or described ;
growth of pericarp / ovary wall ;
petals fall off / stamens or stigma or style withers AW ;

1(b) asexual / vegetative ; 1

1(c) (using flowers) maximum 2 marks from 3

variation AW ;
population more likely to survive environmental change / disease ;
more widely dispersed ;
reduction of competition ;

(using plantlets) maximum 2 marks from

quick / only one plant needed / no other organism needed ;
supply of water / nutrition from parent plant ;
higher survival rate ;
new plants in environment to which plant is well suited AW ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 4 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a)(i) radicle / root ; 2
root hairs ;
plumule / shoot / stem ;
leaves ;
hypocotyl ;

2(a)(ii) (name of process) 4

germination / growth ;

(use of enzymes) maximum 3 marks from

digest / breakdown / hydrolysis ;

amylase ;
starch + to maltose / glucose ;

protease ;
protein + to amino acids ;

lipase ;
fats + to fatty acids and glycerol ;

2(b) development AW slower / would not germinate / would not grow ; 2

denature ;
reactions / digestion / hydrolysis / breakdown + slow / don’t occur ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 5 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(a)(i) (A) biceps ; 3

(B) scapula / shoulder blade ;
(C) humerus ;

3(a)(ii) hinge joint correctly identified ; 1

3(a)(iii) rotation / more than one plane AW ; 1

3(b)(i) glucose / C6H12O6 + oxygen / 6O2 ; 2 A a mixture of words and correct symbols

carbon dioxide / 6CO2 + water / 6H2O ;

3(b)(ii) anaerobic (respiration) / lack of oxygen ; 2

lactic acid ;

3(b)(iii) (time taken) would decrease / pain quicker ; 3

more muscle activity / muscle works hard(er) ;
more energy ;
more anaerobic (respiration) ;
more lactic acid ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 6 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a)(i) diaphragm + contracts ; 3 Ig references to volume / pressure

diaphragm + moves down ;
external intercostal muscles + contract ;
internal intercostal muscles + relax ;
ribs move + up / out ;

4(a)(ii) structure D correctly identified on trachea / bronchus ; 2 A any method of correct identification

structure E identified at end of a bronchiole ;

4(b) (capillary) max 3 marks from 5

wall + one cell thick ;
diffusion ;
example of named substance + in / out / through wall ;
branching / network / contacts many cells / large surface area ;

(red blood cell) max 3 marks from

biconcave AW ;
no nucleus ;
haemoglobin ;
large surface area ;
oxygen in / out / carriage ;
able to squeeze through capillaries / flexible ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 7 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

5(a) membrane or P / cytoplasm or Q /  pulling away from wall ; 4

plasmolysed / plasmolysis / flaccid ;
water potential / concentration + lower outside than inside cells ORA ;
diffusion / osmosis ;
water + out of cells ;
through + partially AW permeable membrane ;

5(b)(i) (P) membrane ; 2

(Q) cytoplasm ;

5(b)(ii) salt + water / solution ; 1

5(b)(iii) partially AW permeable ; 3

water can pass through ;
other substances (e.g. salt) + cannot pass through ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 8 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(a) (agricultural land) max 4 marks from 6

insecticides / pesticides / fertilisers ;
into river / ocean / water ;
eutrophication AW ;
contamination of drinking water ;
soil erosion / leaching / run-off ;

* burning + fossil fuels / named fossil fuel ; * A once only for agricultural land or power
* release of carbon dioxide / monoxide ; station
* global warming / greenhouse effect or gas ;
* death of river or marine life ;

(power station) max 4 marks from

* burning + fossil fuels / named fossil fuel ;
* release of carbon dioxide / monoxide ;
* global warming / greenhouse effect or gas ;
* death of river or marine life ;

release of sulfur dioxide / oxides of nitrogen ;

acid rain ;
increase in water temperature ;

6(b) reduce / recycle / re-use ; 4

max 3 marks from list of examples

glass / metal / plastic / water / fishing / use of cars or catalytic converters / Ig waste / refuse unqualified
effluent / carrier bags / greenhouse emissions / fossil fuels / oil / sewage / plant
trees / renewable energy ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 9 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a)(i) oesophagus / gullet ; 1

7(a)(ii) peristalsis ; 4
wave of / rhythmic + contraction ;
circular muscles ; Ig longitudinal muscles
behind / pushing (food) ;

7(b)(i) higher than ; 1

7(b)(ii) liver ; 4 Ig gall bladder

bile ;
pancreas ;
pancreatic juice / secretions / hydrogencarbonate ;
bile / pancreatic juice + alkaline / high pH ; A any pH above 7

© UCLES 2018 Page 10 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

8(a) (pH or temperature) 7

best / optimum / fastest ;
rate slower both sides of the optimum ;
active site ;
change in shape ;
substrate no longer fits ;
shape of curve described ;
denaturation + pH not optimum / high temperature AW ;

(temperature only)
Increase in temperature increases rate of reaction ;
heat increases rate of molecular movement / kinetic energy ;
more collisions (at higher temperature) ;

8(b) named enzyme from alimentary canal ; 3

correct named location for action of enzyme named ;
correct named substrate + product(s) for substrate named ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 11 of 12

5090/21 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2018
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks Guidance

9(a) (light intensity) 7

higher the light intensity the faster the rate of photosynthesis ORA ;
limiting factor ;
up to a maximum ;
(light) absorbed AW + chlorophyll / chloroplasts ;

(temperature)
rate of photosynthesis increases with higher temperature ORA ;
limiting factor ;
faster molecular movement / more kinetic energy ;
enzymes ;

water loss at higher temperatures ;

water + photosynthesis ;
guard cells lose turgidity / closure of stomata ;
wilting ;

9(b) (animals) cannot make their own food / cannot photosynthesise AW ; 3

plants + eaten ;
digested ;
assimilated AW ;
respiration / release of energy ; R energy produced

use oxygen from plants ;

plants use carbon dioxide ;

© UCLES 2018 Page 12 of 12